Runaway Country (Debra Saunders On A Runaway Bride, Sociopathy And Forgiveness Alert)

When the feds quickly announce they won't press charges against runaway-bride Jennifer Wilbanks, 32, when the Albuquerque police chief discusses the "stress that she's been through" and law enforcement in Georgia is still noodling over whether to prosecute her for staging a kidnapping that didn't happen, you know you live in a country where actions mean nothing.

Don't get me wrong: There have been serious consequences to Wilbanks' apparently premeditated hoax -- she bought her bus ticket a week before running off, and left behind her keys, wallet and ring, which made her disappearance look like a kidnapping, or worse. Many suspected that Wilbanks' fiance, John Mason, had killed her. Cable TV news reporters were happy to inform viewers that Mason had not agreed to a police polygraph. In such an atmosphere, some vigilante could have hurt Mason. Then there was the nightmare endured by terrified family members and friends.

The mayor of Duluth, Ga., estimates that Wilbanks' faux kidnapping and solo honeymoon in Vegas cost taxpayers some $60,000 for personnel. Now, if there is a real kidnapping, concerned neighbors may be less likely to join the search.

Worst of all, her phony alibi was unconscionable. Wilbanks' tall tale -- that she was kidnapped by an armed "Hispanic man" and white woman in a blue van -- smeared and brought suspicion to Latinos, Latino-white couples and even blue van owners.

The outrage isn't that Wilbanks skipped out of her 600-guest, 14-bridesmaid and eight-bridal-shower wedding. (I should care? I didn't pay for it.)

The outrage is her apparent effort to report a false abduction. Backing out of a wedding -- that's between two people. Staging a kidnapping -- where government agents and citizens join the search -- is America's business.

Jilted fiance Mason told Fox News' Sean Hannity that Wilbanks' guilt "has got to be consequence enough for me." Mason also said Wilbanks is "a victim here, as well." And, "Haven't we all made mistakes?"

After the hoax came to light, the minister who was to have presided over the wedding, the Rev. Alan Jones, told CNN: "John said 'everybody has a right to make a mistake.' He said ,'The Bible calls that sin.' He said: 'The Bible also says every time we sin, we crucify Christ anew. And Christ forgives us, and that's what grace is all about.'"

Maybe Mason is in shock and doesn't really know what he is saying. But when other people, who aren't in his sorry shoes, are saying the same thing, his excuses warrant a response.

I don't know why, but this nonsensical understanding of forgiveness -- as if it should be given instantly, regardless of circumstances -- seems to be popular among a growing faction of Americans, on the left and the right, who are caught up in a mania for forgiving.

They don't get it. Forgive and forget are not synonyms. Forgiveness is not something that should be granted automatically. You forgive people after they've admitted to what they did wrong and apologized.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent Carter Brank told The Associated Press that Wilbanks "was somewhat remorseful," but she "didn't come right out and apologize."

Or you forgive after time has elapsed and you choose to set aside your anger. You can forgive without making excuses. Note to Mason: You can forgive your fiance, but that doesn't mean you still have to marry her. Besides, the wannabe groom's comments don't speak of forgiveness. They suggest a clear unwillingness to confront the fact that an adult woman who would plan and carry out such a hoax, and subject her parents and fiance to such terror and suspicion, is utterly devoid of character.

(It's odd how the left sees the devout as being harsh and inflexible, yet here Mason and his spiritual mentors are dismissing this cruel act as a simple mistake, almost as if it were beyond the hapless Wilbanks' control. People I talk to in San Francisco are appalled at Wilbanks' stunt, while Duluth's good Christian gentlemen shrug that Wilbanks needs "treatment," as Mason told Hannity, "for lack of a better word.")

There is one other explanation: Wilbanks is mentally ill. Although her friends and family say she is not. If she is not mentally ill, she should face greater consequences than her dubious sense of guilt.

The runaway bride's father, Harris Wilbanks, told Hannity that his daughter needs "some space and some time." I agree. In fact, I would like to see Wilbanks get that space and time -- as long as the space is a cot in a jail cell and the time is spent reflecting behind bars.

Who is Jennifer Wilbanks? A sociopath, a young woman without a conscience. She not only conned the country into thinking she was a kidnapped bride, when it turned out she ran away from her wedding and left her groom and the country concerned for her fate - she made sure suspicion fell on Hispanics and people driving blue vans. This wasn't a hoax; it was more like an act of intentional, premeditated cruelty. No woman truly in love would do that to the man she meant to live together with the rest of her life. And she's shown no remorse for what she put every one through. As for her fiance John Mason, willingness to put the past behind them, well forgiveness is supposed to be earned, not extended automatically like its a gift. His bride's supposed to ask for it after leaving him at the altar - after all he's the injured party. We've met a young woman bereft of a conscience who needs to be put behind bars and Debra Saunders is right - the guy who wants to marry her should thank his lucky stars he found out who she really was before they tied the knot. That is, if he learned his lesson about the shallowness of her character. And now its time for Wilbanks to spend time behind bars, although I part company with Debra in thinking she'll put it to good use reflecting on her crime. Sociopaths never think they're in the wrong.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

I am amazed at the publics deep interest in lynching this woman. Michael Schiavo gets a pass because he was engaged in a "Private Family Matter." Never mind he murdered his wife in full view of the public.

Jennifer Wilbanks has problems, that's obvious. But, is it the nations business? Are we all so disappointed she was found alive and we didn't have another Scott Peterson murder trial to droll over?

Yes, it was thought she was kidnapped. In her moment in Albuquerque she claimed she was kidnapped, after hearing of what was going on back in Duluth. But, what does it matter in downtown Podunk what happens between an engaged couple in Duluth, Georgia? What does it matter to anyone outside of Duluth whether or not the authorities there charge her with anything?

If anything ever truly was a private family matter, this is it. It was the media that spurred interest in this case and started indicating the guilt of her fiance', not Ms. Wilbanks. It is the media that is whipping the nation into a frenzy over her being found still alive.

If her fiance, the man she may end up spending the rest of her life with, forgives her, who are any of the rest of us not to just move on and leave them alone? Duluth will act as they see fit towards this and quite frankly, it is no one else's business.

Does she have emotional problems? You bet. But stop and think of all the rest demanding her lynching and think of the deeper emotional problems they have by keeping their noses stuck into it.

Sheesh, this is about the biggest non-news I've heard in a long time.

It wouldn't be the country's business if people didn't think she was in danger for her life. I agree a marriage is the couple's business. But when a thoughtless bride cons the public and sticks the taxpayers with the bill for finding her, yes, its a big story. It speaks to the absence of responsibility in our culture. No one steps up to the plate to be accountable for the consequences of their actions. At least I hope in Wilbanks case, there will be consequences for this oaf of a young woman.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

its a big story

Yes, it's really a big story. I'm sure Podunk Iowa will go broke because of what this woman did.

The last thing we want to do is start paying attention to more mundane matters in the world. You know, like two charlatan Democrats readying themselves for a run to the Presidency in '08, a war on terror, hundreds and thousands of illegal aliens sneaking into our country, a stolen governors election in Washington State, meaningless reports like those.

But, why just write articles about her? Why not do it right? Just get a group together and go down there, drag her out in the dead of night and lynch her. The public will get the blood they desire then.

Where is the outcry over the other thousands of missing people currently? Where is the demand for Bill Clinton to repay the nation for his attempts at covering up his lies that led to his impeachment? I'll wager that his misdealings cost a tad more than just $60,000 to one community in Georgia.

Why is there no outcry to jail the parents of those children in Florida than walked off and drowned? Why isn't the public demanding they account for not watching their children better? Why isn't the media whipping the public into a frenzy over what it cost to find their bodies, not from kidnapping, but from not being adequately watched?

When do we stand together and demand accounting from the alphabet media about their manipulation of the public on stories like this? ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and F-O-X are the ones most responsible for the frenzy, all for their ratings. Shouldn't the public be held accountable for allowing the media to manipulate them?

Not to worry, there will soon be another murder trial somewhere to satisfy the publics blood lust, there always is. Sorry, but this woman is alive, much to the chagrin of a large group of the public. If what this woman did is really effecting anyone personally outside of the family, maybe it is they who really needs help, just as much if not more than Ms. Wilbanks

"No woman truly in love would do that to the man she meant to live together with the rest of her life. And she's shown no remorse for what she put every one through."

er... news flash. She isn't in love with him. Also just exactly what has she put you through? Do you want a personal apology. Should she go door to door across America apologizing to each and every person? Give me a break. If it hadn't been such a slow news day no one but her family and friends would even know about it.

Obviously her family deserves an apology but that is between she and they. No one asked you to stick your nose in their business.

Thanks for the post. This might be the only opinion columnist who has written about this )atleast on townhall.com anyways).

Here my observation: It seems to me from time to time we have these type stories where someone does something really bizarre (in this case bizarre and illegal). We then have people critcizing the persons actions and making statements about what this says about our modern day culture and personal responsibility. Most people join in on the criticism. Unless of course the targeted person is from their culture. Then they start quoting their favorite "judge not!" Bible verses and claim that forgiveness somehow means that I get exempt from any consequences of what ever laws I may have broken. Just my opinion. It gets to be as predictable as another hot atlanta summer!

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